WOMEN'S MAKE-UP IN ANCIENT TIMES

Image of ancient Egyptian woman, taken from a wall painting

Egyptian fashion, though decried by the prophets, certainly influenced Israelite culture. Sophisticated women like Jezebel followed fashions in the Egyptian and Assyrian courts.

But painting one's face was more than a fashion statement for a queen/priestess like Jezebel. Ritual make-up denoted separation from the ordinary, and elevation to a higher state of being.

For a queen, it was a badge of office. She painted her face in a particular way to denote her rank, and her separation from the common people.

As a priestess, she applied ritual make-up as part of her preparation for worship. She used

• kohl, a substance based on lampblack or antimony, used to darken the eyelashes and eyebrows and outline the eyelids; in hot dry climates it prevented dust getting into the eyes
• rouge, used to redden the lips and cheeks and highlight skin tones on the face and body
• various white powers, used to give a paler complexion; pale skin denoted high social status, since poor women - 95% of the population - had to work in the fields
• perfumed bath oils were widely used by upper class women
• abrasives were used to clean and whiten the teeth.